Belizean Grove

The Belizean Grove is an elite, invitation-only American women's social club, located in New York City.[1][2] The club was founded in 2001 by Susan Stautberg, a former Westinghouse Broadcasting executive, and author and futurist Edie Weiner.[3]

Belizean Grove logo

Modeled after the San Francisco-based Bohemian Club[4] Belizean Grove formed to duplicate for women how the "old boy's network supported one another", stated co-founder Stautberg,[5] the membership of which was known to bond at annual retreats held at Bohemian Grove in California.[2]

The Belizean Grove meets annually in Belize or similar Central American locations.[6] They also meet in New York and other U.S. cities, for activities they describe as "a balance of fun, substantive programs and bonding".[7]

Members, known as "grovers",[7] numbered 125 in 2009, including military, financial and diplomatic leaders,[2] and 390 in 2015.[3] Members have included former General Services Administration Administrator Lurita Doan and U.S. Army General Ann E. Dunwoody.[2][8] C-suite executives from Goldman Sachs,[9] Victoria's Secret, and Harley-Davidson also belong to the Grove, as do some ambassadors.[7] Other business leaders include Mary C. Pearl [10] and Christine Toretti.[11]

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is a former member of Belizean Grove. She resigned membership June 19, 2009, after Republican senators voiced concerns over the group's women-only membership policy.[12][13][14][15]

See also

References
  1. Gutner, Toddi (2001-02-19). "Move Over, Bohemian Grove". BusinessWeek. Archived from the original on 12 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  2. Vogel, Kenneth P. (2009-06-04). "Sonia Sotomayor found friends in elite group". The Politico. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  3. "8 of the world’s most exclusive clubs — can you join?" Colleen Kane, Fortune, January 30, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  4. Ryckman, Pamela (2011-04-02). "Belizean Grove, a Mighty Women's Club, Keeps a Low Profile". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  5. "Sotomayor: Under the Microscope" Carol Hymowitz, Forbes, June 22, 2009. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  6. "The Belizean Grove--Old Girls' Club Rising - Technorati Technorati Women". Archived from the original on 2012-01-10. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  7. Savage, Charlie & Kirkpatrick, David D. (2009-06-15). "Sotomayor Defends Ties to Association". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 8, 2011. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  8. Cohen, Andrew (2009-06-05). "Is Sotomayor Supremely Stylish?". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  9. "Members of the Professional Women's Club Belizean Grove to Mentor Artists from the Maket | Santa Fe International Folk Art Market". www.folkartmarket.org. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  10. "Internationally Renowned Conservationist Named Dean Of Stony Brook Southampton" Stoneybrook University, February 11, 2009. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  11. "CHRISTINE TORETTI: Indiana businesswoman wields national influence" RON MUSSELMAN, Indiana Gazette, June 30, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  12. Sherman, Mark (2009-06-19). "Sotomayor Quits Belizean Grove". Huffington Post. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 20 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  13. Bravin, Jess (2009-06-20). "Court Nominee Sotomayor Quits Women-Only Group". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 23 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  14. "Sotomayor resigns from women's club". CNN. 2009-06-19. Archived from the original on 24 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  15. Cooper, Helene (2009-06-20). "Sotomayor quits club". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 21 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
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